Takarangi in Polynesian tradition
Takarangi is the young leader of the besieging Ngati-Awa force in George Grey's account of the siege at Whakarewa. When the defenders are weakened by thirst, he brings water to the elderly chief Rangirarunga and his daughter Rau-Mahora. Rangirarunga asks his daughter whether she will marry Takarangi; she agrees, and the marriage ends the war.
SourcePolynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race (George Grey): The Loves of Takarangi and Rau-Mahora (EPUB text block 1)· Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race (George Grey): The Loves of Takarangi and Rau-Mahora (EPUB text block 2)· Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race (George Grey): The Loves of Takarangi and Rau-Mahora (EPUB text block 4)· Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race (George Grey): The Loves of Takarangi and Rau-Mahora (EPUB text block 5)
The quick answers
Who is Takarangi?
Takarangi is a Polynesian hero.
The myths of Takarangi
1 myth, with sources recorded for each.
Takarangi, Rau-Mahora, and the End of the Siege
Rangirarunga's fortified settlement of Whakarewa withstands repeated assaults by the Ngati-Awa force led by Te Rangi-apitirua and his son Takarangi. The siege lasts until the people inside are worn down by a lack of provisions and water. When the elderly Rangirarunga asks the besiegers for a drink, some pity him, but others repeatedly break the calabash before he can receive any water.
Rangirarunga calls down to the young leader and asks whether he can still the anger of the warriors around him. Takarangi answers confidently, then goes to the spring Oringi, fills a calabash and carries it up to the old chief and his daughter Rau-Mahora. The two look at one another as the assembled warriors watch.
Rangirarunga asks Rau-Mahora whether she would like the young chief as a husband. She answers that she likes him, and her father consents to the marriage. Takarangi takes her as his wife. Grey's account says the army then disperses and does not return to make war against the Taranaki tribes.
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MythSource. (n.d.). Takarangi. https://www.mythsource.com/figures/takarangi
"Takarangi." MythSource, n.d., www.mythsource.com/figures/takarangi.
"Takarangi." MythSource. n.d. https://www.mythsource.com/figures/takarangi.
Source details
- Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race. Sir George Grey, author. New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, 2005. Originally published in 1885; National Library of New Zealand NZETC edition. Source edition · Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 New Zealand. MythSource retellings use original wording; no source quotations, scans, songs or incantations are reproduced.
The mythology summaries and identity fields on this page are grounded in the sources listed above. The appearance table records candidates separately; only confirmed connections are presented as modern retellings in Overview.